Marine Tardigrada from the Southeastern United States Coastal Waters I. Paradoxipus orzeliscoides n. gen., n. sp. (Arthrotardigrada: Halechiniscidae)

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Abstract
A new interstitial arthrotardigrade, Paradoxipus orzeliscoides n. gen., n. sp., is described from subtidal coarse-sand and shell-hash habitats, at 15 m depth 8.4 km east of Fort Pierce, Florida, and from medium-sand of the dredged channel, 5 m depth, of the Intracoastal Waterway of the Indian River, north of Fort Pierce. The new species is distinguished by the presence of both suction discs and claws on the toes, two pairs of clavae, and pointed lateral and caudal alae. Interference-contrast optics were used to video-record living specimens of the new species in order to study the functional morphology of the suction discs. Comparisons of the legs of Orzeliscus and Paradoxipus n. gen. were made. The phylogenetic relationships of the new genus to other genera in Halechiniscidae and Orzeliscidae are discussed. On the basis of characters shared with Chrysoarctus, Paradoxipus is assigned to the subfamily Halechiniscinae. Complex seminal receptacles and two pairs of clavae in the new genus are considered plesiomorphic characters, and suction discs and transparent alae are considered apomorphous ones.